HABITS OF SPARROW-HAWK. 



27 



VOL. X.] 



silent, but do not go far away. Others go with a great 

 swish of A\ings, but are other\^ise quiet. Some rush from 

 tree to tree of the wood, uttering loud alarm notes — 

 " kew-kew-kew" — repeated very rapidly about ten times. 

 When the young are hatched, this alarm note sometimes 

 becomes '" kyow-kyow-kyow" (a farmyard turkey note). 

 One bird, and only one. shrieked "' kill-kill-kill,"' and flew 



Fig. 1. SPARROW-HAWK. 



As incubation advances the lieu sheds down abont the nest. 



{Photographed by A. P. Adams.) 



backwards and fonvards through the nest-tree, often 

 passing within a few inches of us and on rare occasions 

 even touching us. Another bird flew very high backwards 

 and forwards over the wood ; she was silent and acted 

 rather as the hen does in the spring evolutions. On 

 another occasion the cock joined the hen, and both flew 

 together up and do^ai and above the wood, giving their 

 alarm notes ; it was especially interesting, as it was the 

 only time I have knowai this happen, and the hen had 

 at the time barely finished laying. 



